American Sign Language Interpreting (ASLI) Program - University of Houston
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American Sign Language Interpreting (ASLI) Program

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the American Sign Language Interpreting (ASLI) program at the University of Houston is to prepare, educate and assess competency in linguistic skills, interpersonal skills, and performance skills and cultural competency. 

Overview of the American Sign Language Interpreting (ASLI) Program

This B.A. degree program for ASL/English Interpreting is designed to prepare students to effectively interpret with 75% or more degree of accuracy between American Sign Language (receptive and expressive) and English (spoken and written). Sign language interpreters work in a vast array of settings such as: social service agencies, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, courtrooms, hospitals, community agencies, television programs and video relay call centers. For information about this career, click here

At the University of Houston, American Sign Language courses are taught by deaf professors so that students experience both a cultural and linguistic immersion in the classroom setting. Throughout their 4-year program of study, students will interact with professional interpreters and members of the deaf community.  Interpreting courses are taught by professors who have expertise in training individuals to meet state and national certification standards. Successful graduates of the ASLI program are fluent in both English and American Sign Language, demonstrate an understanding of the profession and its ethical principles and will have completed all University of Houston requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree.

The goal of the UH ASLI program is for graduates to be qualified to pass the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) certification exam. There are approximately only 75 BEI Basic level certified interpreters in Harris county, Houston Texas.  To date, 27 of UH ASLI alumni have obtained this level of certification (36% of the total certified in Harris county).

For more information, please click on the link for general information. You may also visit the link to our admission criteria as well as the curriculum and the courses offered.